Exodus 18:20

Verse

Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.

American Standard Version (1901)

and thou shalt teach them the statutes and the laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Bible in Basic English

Teaching them his rules and his laws, guiding them in the way they have to go, and making clear to them the work they have to do.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And to shew the people the ceremonies and the manner of worshipping, and the way wherein they ought to walk, and the work that they ought to do.

Free Bible Version

Go on teaching them the laws and regulations. Show them how to live and the work they are to do.

Geneva Bible 1599

And admonish them of the ordinances, and of the lawes, and shew them the way, wherein they must walke, and the worke that they must do.

King James (Authorized) Version

And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

One Unity Resource Bible

You shall teach them the statutes and the torot ·teachings·, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Translation for Translators

You should also teach the people what God has commanded and instructed you. You should also explain to them how they should conduct their lives, and the things that they should do.

Unlocked Literal Bible

You must teach them his statutes and laws. You must show them the way to walk and the work to do.

Noah Webster Bible

And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

World English Bible

You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Young's Literal Translation

and thou hast warned them [concerning] the statutes and the laws, and hast made known to them the way in which they go, and the work which they do.

Context

Jethro Advises Moses

¹⁹Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.²⁰Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.

Summary

In this verse, Jethro advises Moses on how to govern the people of Israel wisely by teaching them God's decrees and instructions. By doing so, Moses would be able to judge the people fairly and resolve disputes effectively. This verse highlights the importance of seeking God's guidance and following His laws in leadership and decision-making. It also emphasizes the significance of imparting God's wisdom to others for the betterment of the community.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Thou shalt teach them ordinances - חקים chukkim, all such precepts as relate to the ceremonies of religion and political economy. And laws, התורת hattoroth, the instructions relative to the whole system of morality. And shalt show them the way - אה הדרך eth hadderech, That very Way, that only way, which God himself has revealed, and in which they should walk in order to please him, and get their souls everlastingly saved. And the work that they must do - For it was not sufficient that they should know their duty both to God and man, but they must Do it too; יעשון yaasun, they must do it diligently, fervently, effectually; for the paragogic nun deepens and extends the meaning of the verb. What a very comprehensive form of a preacher's duty does this verse exhibit! 1. He must instruct the people in the nature, use, and importance of the ordinances of religion. 2. He must lay before them the whole moral law, and their obligations to fulfill all its precepts. 3. He must point out to each his particular duty, and what is expected of him in his situation, connections, etc. And, 4. He must set them all their work, and see that they do it. On such a plan as this he will have full opportunity to show the people, 1. Their sin, ignorance, and folly; 2. The pure and holy law which they have broken, and by which they are condemned; 3. The grace of God that bringeth salvation, by which they are to be justified and finally saved; and, 4. The necessity of showing their faith by their works; not only denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, but living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people,.... Or look out (t) from among them; see Act 6:3, able men; or "men of power" (u); meaning not so much men of strong and robust constitutions, who, as Aben Ezra says, are able to bear labour; but men that have strength of heart, as Ben Gersom expresses it, men of spirit and courage, and are not afraid to do justice, to repress vice, and countenance virtue; or, as Maimonides says (w), have a strong heart, or courage and boldness to deliver the oppressed from the hands of the oppressor. Jarchi interprets it of rich men, of men of substance, who have no need to flatter, or play the hypocrite, and to know the faces of men: such as fear God; who have the fear of God before their eyes, and on their hearts, in all they do, and therefore cannot do those things that others do, who are destitute of it; cannot give a cause the wrong way wilfully, or pervert judgment, and are the reverse of the character of the unjust judge, that neither feared God nor regarded man, Luk 18:2, men of truth; true men, sincere, upright, and faithful men, that love truth and hate lies and falsehood, and will take some pains to get at the truth of a cause, to inquire where it lies, and pursue and encourage it where it is found, and discourage to the uttermost falsehood, lies, and perjury: hating covetousness; in themselves and others, filthy lucre, dishonest gain, mammon of unrighteousness, and so not to be bribed and corrupted, and execute wrong judgment for the sake of money: and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens; meaning not courts of judicature, consisting of such a number of judges, for such a court was never known to have a thousand judges upon the bench at once; the highest court of judicature that ever was among the Jews, which was long after this time, consisted but of seventy or seventy one: but the sense is, that each of these should have such a number of persons, or rather families, under their care, who, when they applied unto them for justice, should faithfully administer it to them; See Gill on Exo 18:25. (t) "videbis", Montanus; "tu prospice", Tigurine version; "tu videto", Drusius. (u) "viros virtutis", Montanus, Vatablus; "viros fortitudinis", Cartwright. (w) Hilchot Sanhedrin, c. 2. sect. 7.